FIRES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3018, 17 January 1912, Page 61

FIRES.

AUCKLAND, January 11. A five-roomed house at Morningside was burned to the ground this evening. The building was owned by Mrs Patterson, and was 7>ccupied by Mr Willis and his family. The children were sleeping, but were got out safely. The cause is a mystery. January 12. The constable at Te Awamutu has reported to headquarters tliat the Harapepe Public School was destroyed by fire yesterday. He is proceeding to the scene to make inquiries. January 14 The school at Harapepe was destroyed by fire on Thursday. It had not been used for school ourpoees for 15 years. The building was erected when the sawmilling industry thrived in the district, but later the population shifted. January 15. Holy Trinity Parish Hull at Otahuhu was destroyed by fire on Sunday afternoon. The hall and furniture, including the piano, were insured for £l9O. The hall was a very old landmark, having been built at the time the Imperial troops were camped at Otahuhu. WELLINGTON, January 10. Fire this morning destroyed two houses at Kilbirnic. One, owned and occupied by Mr William Millar, was insured for £6OO in the London and Lancashire, and the furniture for £260 in the State Office. The second'house, occupied by Mr W. J. Miller, was insured for £550 in the Queensland Office, and the furniture for £l5O in iho Royal. January 12. A fire broke out this afternoon in Bidwell street, and a 10-roomed house occupied by Mr Herbert G. Smith, manager of the Phcenix. Fire Insurance Office, and an adjoining imio-roomcd residence owned and occupied by Miss Mary Ballingall, were both destroyed The origin of the fire is a mystery. There was no wind, but the pressure of water was poor. Mr Smith’s place was valued at £IOOO and the contents at £3OO. Mies Ballingall’s house was valuer! at £I2OO and the-contents at £SOO. The insurances are not yet aAriilablo. CHRISTCHURCH, January 15. A little before 7.30 this morning the Kaiapoi Fire Brigade turned out to a file in tho Kaiapoi Snipping and Tiading Company’s sawmill at the back of Hansen's Buildings in Charles street. The mill, a largo corrugated iron structure, containing a good deal of timber, was a mass of flairnes, and the brigade centred its attention on the adjoining buildings, mostly sheds, which were considerably damaged. The mill was gutted, and the boiler and engine were rendered useless. The other machinery was also destroyed. BLAZE AT OTIRA. CFbom Oue Own Correspondent.) GREYMOUTH', January 11. Otira w’as thrown into a state of excitement about 9.30 o’clock last night, when the fire alarm was vigorously sounded, whilst the glare on the surrounding hillsides made it at once evident that an outbreak of large proportions had occurred. It was soon discovered that a fire had started in M’Lean and Sons’ blacksmith’s shop and drying shed, a twostoried wooden building, which wa«i speedily destroyed. It was impossible to attempt to suppress the outbreak on account of the lack of fire-fighting appliances. Efforts were therefore devoted towards saving the goods stored inside the building. The fire, however, spread so rapidly that only' a few articles an<l some men’s clothes could be got at. The cause of the outbreak is unknown. The machinery in the drying room was completely destroyed. This is the second occasion on which the drying shed - was completely destroyed, the first building having been destroyed by fire nine months ago. The loss is "very considerable.

NEWSPAPER OFFICE BURNT. HALIFAX (N.S.), January 12. The Halifax Herald building was destroyed by fire. A fierce gale hampered the firemen's work. The offices of numerous mercantile firms and of the United States Consulate were aleo destroyed, while the buildings of the

Provincial Legislature, which were close by, narrowly escaped.